Obama has been too lenient on industrial polluters Re: “EPA’s green tyranny stifles America,” May 25
Rich Trzupek’s ideological rant contains internal contradictions — and almost no facts. We agree that “cap and trade” was not designed to lower greenhouse emissions, but to raise funds for voluntary industrial actions, which is why a large portion of the environmental, public justice, religious and civic community opposed it. That’s also why a California court recently ruled that state’s cap and trade administrative regime illegal.
Aside from failing to disclose his conflict of interest in working for a firm that profits from battling the Environmental Protection Agency, where Trzupek falls down is assailing EPA’s use of the successful Clean Air Act to combat global warming, which the Supreme Court has upheld.
Indeed, gargantuan U.S. greenhouse emissions have dropped slightly because first, as Trzupek acknowledges, the United States is actually regulating against pollution; and second, because of the U.S. recession, which was caused by — voila — a lack of regulation of the financial markets by the Bush II administration.
The major harms that have befallen our country — such as the BP oil disaster — occurred when the government was too lax, not when industrial giants were regulated too much. If anything, the Obama administration has been too lenient with fossil fuel polluters, a constituency that will not support him no matter what. If you want cheaper energy, go after the major oil companies’ obscene profits.
William J. Snape III
Washington
Boomers spawned American culture of extremes
Re: “Baby boomers fueling boom in knee, hip surgeries,” May 23
It’s no surprise that the United States is “becoming a nation of bum knees, worn-out hips and sore shoulders.” Physical fitness is one of many extremes spawned by the boomer generation in creating a selfish, superficial society — with shame in short supply.
This spoiled generation rejected their parents, the meaning of freedom in America, and formed an anti-establishment counterculture that launched the drug culture, extreme feminism, and reverse racism. The “Me Generation” took over education, embraced socialism, and expanded government, political correctness and extreme environmentalism — before embracing extreme boom-and-bust capitalism.
When these activists, demonstrators, demonizers and finger-pointers run out of gas searching for someone to blame for all the dishonesty, abuse of power, greed, sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll, all they need do is corner the market on mirrors.
Dan Jeffs
Apple Valley, Calif.
In-state tuition for illegal immigrants is unfair
Re: “Md. delegates push referendum on tuition breaks for illegal immigrants,” April 21
I support the referendum drive to put the recently passed instate tuition for illegal immigrants on the ballot for the voters to decide next November. It is only fair that the voting citizens of Maryland have the final say on how their taxpayer dollars are spent.
No one is denying these students access to post-secondary education. The issue is taxpayer funding. The schools will not just “eat” the tuition subsidies. With a state budget projected for 2012, taxpayers will have to fund the difference, and the money has to come from somewhere.
Out of whose pocket will it be taken? One is our Distinguished Scholars Program, which is being phased out. Since there is no cap on in-state tuition subsidies, what other groups will be affected?
Beyond the financial implications, the fundamental problem with this new law is its intrinsic unfairness. With funds for scholarships in short supply, children of law-abiding, taxpaying Marylanders are competing with those who are being rewarded for disobeying our laws.
Bernadette Zgorski
Churchville, Md.
